KillerKiwi

I've heard a lot of bad news about Traxxas's engines and cars, people say the engines have a very short life and are pieces of ****. I was thinking about buying a Jato after a hobby store clerk told me they were the best stadium trucks ever made, I wasn't convinced though and decided to read about Traxxas on this forum I started to have second thoughts after reading about their engines. I'm on a very small budget and it would be very hard for me to have to keep buying parts for it. I thought the Jato looked really sharp with the canopy on and I liked it's design. Some people say the Jato is very durable, one said it could survive soaring ten feet off of a jump and careening through a bed room window while others said that jumping two feet would mutilate it. I want to buy a Jato but am not sure it is a good choice. I want to know wether you think it is a good idea.






See, it looks really cool. especially the one with a 3.3 engine.

Wide Open

if youre on a budget, then i suggest you stay away from the jato, ESPECIALLY the 3.3 version. ive seen too many horror stories associated with both of them, and even worse with the 3.3. plus the 3.3 has some really bad weak areas and stock it wont do too well off road, which is what st's are meant for. but anyways, ive also had experience with their engines.... ugh, i need not describe the event. it wasnt even my engine but i couldnt even help the guy tune it and ive run TONS of engines before.[:@]

happywing

Ya, the 3.3 is a stinker. Not very easy to tune. The Jato itself is OK if you like to go really really fast, really really straight. I know 3 people who have had them and at first they were all smiles. A few weeks later, their Jato's were gone. Same story every time. "It doesn't turn."

125cchyperman

If you want a great truck with a small budget and nitro is a must. Then get a xxx-nt2 or the rc10gt. They are awesome trucks that you would like. They dont have the straight line speed of a jato but will (as long as the driver is capable) kick the crap out of a jato on a track any time of the week. And even proud jato owners cannot argue about this. The xxx-nt and rc10gt give up overal speed for track ability.


They turn on a dime and they are great bashers if you want to do so. They are very well built and are know for being great. If you want a great deal of power then you could grab a O.S .18CVR with the rotoary carb . That engine has a much power as the 3.3 does and is very relaible and holds a tune like there's no tommorow. Or you can just use the stock engine's and run them till you need a new one then upgrade. Butt hats ju8st what I would do.

3.3 ----- $419.99 (on towers)
2.5 ----- $354.99 (on towers)
O.S .18CV-RX ----- $109.99 (on towers)

XXX-NT ----- $349.99 (on horrizon)
RC10GT ----- NO PRICE (on towers)

muddymoose92

Do a search on Yahoo and find Steve Slayden's test on the Jato, awesome article.

-whitey-

my dads 3.3 turns great but he only had it for week know not sure how durable it is yet but cant go on grass for sure

KillerKiwi

Dang, the hobby store clerk said it was great and that he wouldn't stock it if it sucked. I really like the fact that the Jato has it's E-Z start and a cool loop lever thing for opening the gas tank, are there any other more powerful engines that will fit in it with minimal modifications? The TRX 3.3 is made for high rpm and low torque, can I get a gearbox that will give me more torque? The Jato got pretty high reviews, is that because it is owned by newbies who haven't used anything else?

MBX5T Maniac

My Feedback: (-1)

Get a REVO buddy. You will not regret it!

Down with ST's for bashing!

Nitro Fumes

Well, I can't speak for their quality. I've never owned a Traxxis product. I don't take RTR's seriously. I just race. But their products look nicley made but I just think they are for bashing only, not for racing. I mean racers don't have on board strarters plus I hear the Jato is not ROAR legal so it is definitely not for racing.

happywing

The only Traxxas product suited for racing is the Revo. There are always loads of them at the track. The rest are bashers, but so what. Traxxas is great at what they do. They build tough economical RC's that get a lot of people into the hobby. I started out with a Stampede (like so many others) but then got into racing. Now I have Associated and Mugen vehicles...oh, and a Revo.

jnev

the jato is a great truck.. I work at a hobby shop as well and we sell tons of them. nobody ever comes back to complain that we sold them a lemon. as for tuning, I've tuned the 2.5 and the 3.3 with no problems whatsoever. easy to tune and ran like a scalded dog, especially the 3.3.

RS4 Racer

The Jato is the bomb... I think it is worth every penny. It is a very durable truck. I never had to replace anything on the truck unless I actually broke it myself. My Jato was hit by a car and flipped in the air and the engine didn't even shut off. The only piece that broke was a body post which cost around 3 dollars. I definantly suggest the Jato if you want a fast fun car. The engine is great too! I ran 3 gallons of fuel hard through my engine before it started getting unreliable. Great Truck, Definantly suggest it! I mean, c'mon guys. Its not like he's gonna race it. It's his first R/C... It has some serious benefits for the backyard basher. E-Z Start, 2-Speed, and excellent suspension just to list a few. The only thing I have changed on my Jato is the tire setup. I put some Pro-Line MOAB tires on it.

Krawlin

personally i think all traxxas things suck...especially the revo's transmission...i am always have trouble with them...i have rebuilt the first one 3 times, replaced it with a new one, had to replace it again, replaced the computer control for the tranny, and then had to buy another tranny. and my friend just bought the jato 3.3 and he said it eats through gears like they are goin out of style. and he said that the diff is a very weak spot on the new jato...but the revo is my main complaint....personally i love the revo suspension...but i dont think traxxas did their homework very well when they made the transmission for the revo...it just plain sucks.

dustin7837

My Feedback: (1)

In my RC experience, traxxas is somewhat overrated.
IMO:

the Jato is mediocre, it is a good design and fairly fast, but lots of matainence.

The revo is SWEET excpt traxxas continues to make horrible engines.... Tune doesnt keep long, and poor life span. I don't know why they can't build a decent one. Trying to keep costs too low I guess.

those are the only current traxxas products I would even take a look at. Tmaxx is popular, but I have been that route and it is a pice of junk, even compared to much cheaper RC's.

Also, I have had issues with traxxas fuel exhibiting the same characterisitcs as Blue thunder. The dye, or maybe something else int eh fuel, tends to ruin bearings. Including the one way bearing in the starter.

nitroexpress

If I was a basher, I'd buy the Jato. If I was a racer, I'd buy the RC10GT or the HPI 4WD stadium truck. BYW, some Jato's can turn. WIth a few simple mods, my Jato can't be touched at local pavement races. Just this last Sun, I took first place, with the RC10GT 3 laps behind. Yea, them Jato's just don't turn.

Medrivfast

I have the Jato 3.3 and i love it. I don't recomend it to a newbie. It's way too fast for someone starting out. I sudgest getting a Revo. The Revo has the EZ-Start you like. It's excellant in the dirt/jumping. It will do 40+mph. Tons of aftermarket parts for it. As for the Traxxas engines. They are a bit finicky on the tunning. But if you can figure out the tunning on a Traxxas engine than you can basically tune any other engine.

KillerKiwi

I was thinking about buying a Jato but I think I like the Losi Muggy better know,

Lots more metal compared to the Jato.




Compare that to this.

The_Collector

I like the Traxxas parts' quality and durability. I DO NOT like the Traxxas engines.
Never had a Jato. I do have a N. Hawk, N. Pede and N. Rustler, with an O.S. in all of them, and they are SOLID.

The Jato is flashy and feature-full, but what's weird is the fact they put a 2-speed INSIDE the gearcase on a 2WD ST, along with the 3.3 (almost 1/8 size engine)...just a waste. It even looks goofy...the thing is on crack. [sm=spinnyeyes.gif]

Oh well, if that's "innovation", so be it.
Start with a simpler car, like a GT or N. Sport, if your LHS has them.

rcxboy

Oh jesus christ. You cannot compare a muggy to a jato as it costs twice hte price! EDIT: mayhem maniac is right, i am getting confused with the LST, sorry guys.

dustin, the traxxas electric products are held in pretty high regard generally as pure bashers. Please don't trash a whole brand based on a small part of its lineup. Traxxas have great customer support, and are a very successful company.

MBX5T Maniac

My Feedback: (-1)

Twice the price?

JATO:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...=LXNCA7**&P=ML

Muggy:
http://www.killerhobbies.com/Browse_...427_-_LOSB0018

145 dollars difference. That's about the same price to put the Same radio and servos into the JATO.

Sell the Radio and servos, and you'll get another 100 or so dollars. So about 45 dollars. But if you keep the radio and stuff, it's far superior to the stuff included in the JATO

SAVAGEJIM

I second this. Revo would be better than Jato. I assume you are looking at Jato because you want to race at some level, whether recreationally, at club level, or maybe evn at some sanctioned races. I say Revo because it is race proven and is great at the track straight out of the box. I personally do not race, nor do I even have a Revo. I only bash and have Savages for that.
The reason why I give Revo the praise is because all my friends race with Revos, even tyhe ones who have both a Savage and Revo.
Don't get me wrong, Savage can be made into a Racer, it just take alot of upgrading and finding the right aftermarket parts.
The Revo on the other hand can be made into a great racer with a few simple upgrade parts. The only gripes my friends have is that the stock suspension arms don't cut it. They upgrade to RPM (or is it GPM? I cannot remember) aftermarket arms and those don't break.
Not only that, Revo does have some bash in it if that is what you want to do. Don't bash it too hard though; it's a finely groomed off-road racer meant more for the track. I would suggest a Savage for bashing, that is what it was designed for out of the box.

thercracingdude

I know for racing the Jato is crapo. The Losi and the RC10GT have dominated the 1/10th scale racing scene. The Jato isn't even legal to race due to its 2 speed tranny. It goes fast in a straight line then cant turn! I just laugh when I seen the kids at my local track with them!

Personally for 1/10th scale I like the magnum i just got my daughter made by CEN. That is for her to toot around with until she decides if she wants to race it.

For racing the I use the RC10GT and the GT2 is coming soon! My son is a fan of the Losi AD2. Go figure!

46u

My Feedback: (3)

I would consider a Revo if they made it in a kit with out a radio and engine. But I am not going to buy a $500 RTR and then have to change the engine, radio, A arms and more. This to me show Traxxas is does not care about the serious RC person! This is one of the many reasons I will not buy Traxxas.

CustomTamiyas4Life

My Feedback: (34)

Well, I highly doubt the jato's the best stadium truck ever made, but it's not a piece of junk either. I guess for perfomance it would be like intermediate and for speed it would be advanced. Confusing, I know lol

stovepipe

I started out with Traxxas and buying more each week. Ok so it breaks this and that but don't all cars get###'d up? They're all made of plastic and plastic will break at some event as with aluminum and steel as well. The Traxxas engine in my opinion is the ultimate. My first car was the Nitro Rustler brand new out of the box. I ran that car in the back yard and on road in parking lots for over a year now.Just last week I rebuilt it with a new jug and piston. Now check this out---- AFTER FOUR GALLONS OF FUEL. And YES the easy start is great also. I'm an old geezer and have pulled to many engines,too many times.